Lend Me a Tenor
Written by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Cate Clelland
Presented by Free-Rain Theatre
It is 1934 – a glamorous time for the Cleveland Grand Opera Company. The company is overjoyed to have secured the world-famous tenor, Tito Merelli, to sing the starring role in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci for one evening. Everything is organised, all preparations have been carefully made, the Company awaits his arrival with bated breath. What can possibly go wrong?
Well, actually, everything! Everything can and does go wrong in this crazy, high-octane farce. In classic farce tradition Lend Me a Tenor offers an evening of silly situations, mistaken identities, mistakes, mishaps, miscommunication, misperception, misconception… It is a delicious piece of nonsense that charges at full speed towards resolution.
Hilarious and extravagant, this is the antidote to Canberra’s winter chills.
By Arrangement with ORiGiN(TM) Theatrical On Behalf of Samuel French – A Concord Theatricals Company
In the news
Reviews - Lend Me A Tenor
Below are reviews of our September 2025 production of Lend Me A Tenor “Under Clelland’s direction her accomplished cast captures the correct mood, creating well-rounded characterisations without losing the essential silliness necessary to engage the audience with the farcical situations. With this delightfully entertaining production of “Lend Me A Tenor” Free Rain Theatre have produced a […]
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Chaos, comedy and charm: Free-Rain Theatre's Lend Me a Tenor
“It’s a fun, fast-paced comedy with snappy dialogue and a lot of heart,” says actor Maxine Beaumont, who plays Maggie. “It’s very much a ‘go out for a laugh’ kind of show.”
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Laugh out loud for Lend Me a Tenor
“It’s a lot of fun but it’s hard work… to make things look so chaotic it takes a lot of order in rehearsal and a high level of precision and rigour,” Beaumont says.
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Supplementary Auditions - Lend Me a Tenor
We are holding supplementary auditions for ‘Lend Me a Tenor’, on stage from 17 – 27 Sept. Extra audition on Sat 7 June.
We are auditioning specifically for the roles of:
– Maggie (20s)
– Tito (famous tenor 35-45)
– Diana (sexy soprano 30-40)
Casting call for open roles in 2 Free-Rain shows
Free-Rain Theatre Company have announced the very talented casts for their three shows on at ACT Hub in 2025. Excitingly, there are still a few roles yet to be cast, so if you’re keen to tread the boards with the amazing talent already cast, we’d love you to send your expression of interest (EOI) to freeraintheatre@gmail.com as […]
Continue readingCast announcement - Lend Me a Tenor
Lend Me a Tenor is a classic farce with the usual menu of silly situations, mistaken identities, mistakes, mishaps, miscommunication, misperception, misconception… It is a delicious piece of nonsense that charges at full speed towards resolution. Free-Rain Theatre Company are delighted to announce the marvelous members of our cast for this fabulous frivolity. CAST: For those roles […]
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Callback, Videos & EOIs for Free-Rain's Season 2025 at ACT Hub
Callbacks for Beauty Queen and Lend Me a Tenor will be held on Saturday 18th January at Cook. New auditionees are asked to send an EOI. For Equus, new auditionees are asked to send an EOI.
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17 September – 27 September 2025
Cast
Saunders – Michael Sparks
Max – John Whinfield
Maggie – Maxine Beaumont
Tito Merelli – William ‘Wally’ Allington
Marie – Christina Falsone
Bellhop – Justice-Noah Malfitano
Diana – Meaghan Stewart
Julia – Sally Cahill
Production Team
Director / Designer: Cate Clelland
Stage Managers: Charlie and Sam Harbison-Gehrmann
Sound Designer: Neville Pye
Lighting Designer: David Brown
Costume Designer: Fiona Leach
Properties/Prompt: Rosemary Gibbons
Scenic Painting Team: Cate Clelland, Zita Clifford, Rosie Abrahams, Sally Cahill
Set Construction: Ron Abrahams, Matt Ovenell (consultant)
Marketing: Olivia Wenholz
Photography: Janelle McMenamin
ACT Hub Season 2025 photography: Ben Appleton, Photox
Acknowledgements
Canberra Repertory Society
Sarahlouise Owens and Sharon Tree singing teachers to John Whinfield
Dianna Nixon and Tara Mac Davidson singing teachers to William ‘Wally’ Allington